Grill canopy and removal system

ABSTRACT

A grill canopy is removably mounted to a grill or cooking assembly over the cooking surface of the grill. The grill canopy includes a first or front half and a second or rear half adapted to fit together in a telescoping arrangement. The first and second canopy halves can be locked together and then rotated to a removal position, where they can be disengaged and removed from the cooking surface of the grill.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present Patent Application is a formalization of previously filed, co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/331,075, filed May 4, 2010 by the inventor named in the present Application. This Patent Application claims the benefit of the filing date of this cited Provisional Patent Application according to the statutes and rules governing provisional patent applications, particularly 35 U.S.C. §119(a)(i) and 37 C.F.R. §1.78(a)(4) and (a)(5). The specification and drawings of the Provisional Patent Application referenced above are specifically incorporated herein by reference as is set forth in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to a canopy for a grill and to a method of removing the canopy from the grill. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a two part canopy that is removably attached to a grill, with the two parts capable of being locked together, rotated to a removal position, and disengaged from attachment with the grill.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional outdoor grills have become increasingly more sophisticated in terms of their cooking operations and features. Such outdoor grills have changed from simple charcoal fueled grills having a single cooking grate to much more sophisticated gas or electric grills having multiple burners and various level and type cooking racks or assemblies. Most higher end or sophisticated gas or electric grills typically include a cabinet or firebox in which a grilling surface is mounted, and typically further include a heavy-duty, recloseable lid that is pivotally attached to the grill for easy opening and closing, and designed to protect the grilling surface and to maintain heat within the grilling area to a greater extent than cheaper charcoal fueled grills. Such constructions, however, still provide limitations with respect to cooking options, and even if the grill cover is left open during cooking, it will still tend to limit access to the available cooking area and will generally radiate heat back toward the user.

Accordingly, it can be seen that a need exists for a cooking assembly such as for outdoor grills that addresses the foregoing and other related and unrelated problems in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly described, the present invention generally relates to a grill canopy for a cooking assembly, typically for an outdoor grill, and a method of removing the canopy from the grill as needed or desired. The grill canopy can be used with a variety of different type cooking assemblies, including gas, electric or other type grills and generally provides a cover for enclosing the cooking surface or cooking area of a grill that can be substantially securely mounted to the grill cook top and pivotable between closed and open positions to at least partially expose the cooking area of the grill, while further being completely removable from the grill to provide unrestricted and open access to the cooking area or surface of the grill.

The grill canopy generally includes a pair of substantially arcuate sections or halves, including a first, proximal or front half or section and a second, distal or rear half or section. The proximal and distal sections further generally will be arranged in a telescoping alignment such that one of the sections, e.g., the front or proximal section, can pass over and cover the other section, e.g., the rear or distal section, such that the canopy sections will telescope together when the front section is moved to an opened position. A lock generally will be mounted to the first or proximal section and will include a locking pin or member that engages a corresponding locking groove formed in the rear or distal section of the grill canopy so as to lock the proximal and distal sections together.

Additionally, each of the canopy sections or halves generally will include a hood or body portion extending between a pair of side walls. Attachment hardware for mounting the canopy halves to the grill cook top is located at the lower end of each of the side walls of each canopy section, and in one embodiment can comprise a substantially C-shaped catch or rotating tab that engages and rotates about pivot pins mounted on opposite sides of the cooking area. With the canopy sections or halves locked together, the canopy sections can be moved to an unlocking position wherein the C-shaped catches of each of the canopy halves or sections are rotated to a non-engaging position with respect to their pivot pins. Thereafter, the grill canopy then can be removed from the grill cook top by lifting it vertically by its handle to fully expose the cooking area of the grill as needed or desired.

For reinstallation of the canopy, the canopy is lowered onto the pivot pins, with the C-shaped recesses of each of the canopy sections or halves receiving and resting on top of the pivot pins. Thereafter, the canopy typically will be rotated to a rearward position such that the catches of at least the rear distal canopy section or half will pivot about and thus engage the pivot pins in a locking arrangement, after which the lock mechanism between the two canopy halves can be disengaged to enable the proximal or front half of the canopy to be moved between its opened and closed positions with respect to the cooking surface.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate the above-stated advantages and other advantages and benefits of various additional embodiments upon reading the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the below-listed drawing figures.

According to common practice, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a cooking assembly with a grill canopy according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the grill canopy of FIG. 1 with the front half opened to a locking position and with the locking mechanism in an unlocked position.

FIG. 3A shows a cutaway view of the front half and the rear half of the canopy with a portion of the front half removed for ease of viewing the normally covered locking slot of the rear half.

FIGS. 3B through 3D show side profile views of the locking mechanism being moved from an unlocked position to a locked position.

FIG. 4A shows the canopy of FIG. 1 with the two locked halves rotated from an opened, locked position to a removal position and the bumper engaging the grill top to prevent over-rotation of the locked canopy halves.

FIG. 4B shows the canopy of FIG. 4A with the two locked halves being removed from the grill top.

FIGS. 5A-5B show side views schematically illustrating the reinstallation of the two halves of the grill canopy onto the grill, and the operation of their attachment hardware for securing the canopy to the grill frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings in which corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a view of a canopy 20 for a cooking apparatus, here shown as a grill 10. According to the principles of the present invention, the grill 10 generally is an outdoor grill, but could be an indoor grill, smoker, or other, similar cooking apparatus if desired. As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the grill 10 generally includes a grill top 12, a grill surface 14 (shown in FIG. 2), a preparation surface 16, and a grill base 18. The grill surface 14 generally defines a grilling or cooking area, which can be further divided into one or more cooking zones or areas that can be independently heated as needed.

The canopy 20 (FIGS. 1-3) is split horizontally and vertically into a first, proximal or front half, section or shell 30 and a second, distal or rear half, section or shell 40. The front half 30 and the rear half 40 generally share a common axis of rotation A. As shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 4A-4B, the front half 30 further typically is slightly larger than the rear half 40 to allow the front half 30 to substantially surround and encapsulate the rear half 40 in a telescoping or overlapping alignment when the front half is moved to an opened, locking position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4A. The front half 30 and rear half 40 of the canopy 20 also each generally include a body or hood portion 31, 38 having front and rear edges 32/32′, and 39/39′ and are attached to spaced side walls 33/33′ and 43/43′, respectively, which side walls each include upper ends 34A/41A and lower ends 34B/41B. The front half 30 also typically includes a handle 50, and a user engagement portion 62 of a locking mechanism 60.

FIG. 2 shows the canopy 20 of FIG. 1 with the front half 30 opened and the locking mechanism 60 in an unlocked position. Generally, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 4A, the front half 30 can be rotated about the axis A by engaging and lifting or rotating handle 50 in an arcuate direction as shown by the arrow R in FIGS. 1-2 so as to cause the attachment hardware 35 of the front half 30 to rotate about an axle or pivot pin 36 mounted within a recess 37 (FIG. 4B) in the frame or grill top 12 of the grill 10, adjacent the grill cooking surface 14, to thus move at least the front half 30 of the canopy to a raised, opened position. The opening of the front half 30 allows access to the grilling surface 14 for cooking with the canopy 20 remaining securely disposed atop the cooking surface of the grill 10.

When removal of the canopy 20 is desired, the front half 30 can be rotated to its fully opened position, which generally is at a full rotation of the front half 30 to the rear of the grill 10 and can be locked to the rear half 40 by engagement of lock mechanism 60. The locking mechanism 60 includes a lock activating or user engagement portion 62 (shown as a sliding latch) and an engaging portion 64 (shown in FIGS. 3B-3D). The lock activating or user engagement portion 62 generally comprises a locking member that can be an elongated pin, catch or similar device, and extends from an exterior face of the locking mechanism 60 through the shell/body of the front half 30 of the canopy and terminates at a lock engaging portion 64 that extends into the interior of both the front and rear halves of the canopy 20.

FIG. 2 shows the canopy 20 with the front half 30 opened to the locking position and with the locking mechanism 60 in an unlocked position. FIG. 3A shows a cutaway view of the interior of the rear half 40 of the canopy 20 with a portion of the front half 30 removed for ease of viewing the normally covered locking slot of the rear half 40 (the location of front half edge 32′ is shown as a dashed line in FIG. 3B for reference). As shown in FIG. 3A, the rear half 40 of the canopy 20 can include a locking slot 42 defined along a peripheral or front edge 39 thereof. The locking slot 42 is shown in one example configuration as including a first slot portion 44 that extends perpendicular to the axis of rotation A (FIG. 2) of rotation of the canopy and is sized to receive the engaging portion 64 (FIGS. 3B-3D) of the locking mechanism 60, and a second slot portion 46 (FIGS. 3A and 3D) that extends in a direction substantially normal to slot portion 44, and defines an unlocked position 45 and a locked position 47 for the engaging portion 64 of the locking mechanism as the locking portion is moved therealong in the direction of arrow L. The second slot portion 46 is shown to be generally perpendicular the first slot portion 44, but could be disposed in any position that would allow the locking mechanism 60 to secure the front half 30 and the second half 40 together and enable their rotation with respect to the grill cook top 12 as a substantially unitary structure.

When in an unlocked position, such as shown in FIG. 2, the engaging portion 64 of the locking mechanism is received and moves into and through slot portion 44, moving into its unlocked position 45 along the second slot portion 46. When the lock activating portion 62 of the locking mechanism 60 is engaged and moved laterally, the lock engaging portion 64 is moved from the unlocked position 45 through/along slot 46 to its locked position 47 as shown in FIGS. 3D and 4A-4B. With the lock engaging portion 64 secured in its locked position 47, the front half 30 and the rear half 40 of the canopy 20 are secured together and are rotatable about axis A (FIG. 4A) as a locked unit. FIGS. 3B through 3D show side profile views of the locking mechanism being moved from the unlocked position to the locked position.

FIGS. 4A-4B show the canopy of FIGS. 1-2 with the two halves 30/40 secured and rotated in the direction of arrow R′ from their locking/engagement position to a removal position. As indicated in FIGS. 4A-5B, the front half 30 and the rear half 40 each include attachment hardware 35, illustrated in one embodiment as rotating tabs or C-shaped catches 51 that are formed/mounted at the lower ends 34B/41B′ of the side walls 33/33′ and 43/43′ of each half and which include openings or recesses 52 that receive pivot pins 36 therein catch portions 53. Other releasable attachment mechanisms or connectors also can be used. The catches 51 further are adapted to rotate about the axis A to move the locked halves of the canopy 20 between their closed positions to their locked position and their removal position. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4A-4B, the catches of the rear half 40 include an extension or bumper 48 that extends slightly further than the catches of the front half 30. The bumper 48 stops the rotation of the locked halves from their closed position to their removal position. As a result, over-rotation of the locked canopy halves is substantially prevented and the catches 51 of the front half 30 and the catches 51 of the rear half 40 are oriented so as to be free of engagement with the pivot pins 36.

Additionally, a guide slot 70 (FIG. 1) can be formed in one or both side walls 43/43′ of the rear half 40, and can receive a cam member 71 (FIG. 5A) formed/attached to an inner surface of a side wall 33/33′ of the front half to assist in controlling the rotation of the front half to its opened position. The cam member, which can include a cam roller, moves along the slot 70 to the end thereof, thereby limiting the extent of the travel of the front half to its opened position, uncovering the grill top.

FIG. 5A shows the canopy of FIGS. 4A-4B with the locked halves 30/40 removed from the grill top 12. Once the locked halves have been rotated to their removal position, the canopy 20 can be lifted by the handle 50 in the direction of arrow V (FIG. 4B) to disengage and separate the tabs or catches 51 from the pivot pins 36. FIG. 4B shows the grill top with the canopy removed. If desired, therefore, the grill top 12 can be utilized as an open grill with the canopy 20 removed. Optionally, the canopy 20 can be stored in the grill base 18 beneath the grill top 12, such as hung on an interior of a door or otherwise stored therein.

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate the reinstallation of the canopy 20 onto the grill top 12 of the grill 10 when needed or desired. For such a reinstallation, the canopy 20 is reconnected/mounted atop the grill 10 by reversing the above listed steps, i.e., lowering the canopy onto the grill top, aligning engagement openings in the tabs or catches 51 with the pivot pins 36, rotating the locked halves about axis of rotation A in the direction of arrow R (FIG. 5B) to reorient them to their locking position, unlocking the locking mechanism by moving the lock activating mechanism 62 in the direction opposite the arrow L shown in FIG. 3C to move lock engaging portion 64 along slot 46 from its locked position 47 to its unlocked position 45, and thereafter rotating front half 30 in the direction of arrow R′ (FIG. 5B)to close the canopy 20 over grill surface 14. The design of the canopy 20 also can form a tolerance pocket that is adapted to assist in restricting sliding movement (back and forth) of the canopy 20 on the grill 10.

The foregoing description of the disclosure illustrates and describes various embodiments. As various changes could be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. For example, in an alternative arrangement not shown, the rear half could be larger than the front half. Furthermore, the scope of the present disclosure covers various modifications, combinations, alterations, etc., of the above-described embodiments that are within the scope of the claims.

Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only selected embodiments of the disclosure, but the disclosure is capable of use in various other combinations, modifications, and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings, and/or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art. Furthermore, certain features and characteristics of each embodiment may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiments of the disclosure. 

1. A cooking assembly, comprising: a base having a cooking area defined thereon; a canopy moveable between a closed position substantially covering said cooking area and an open position exposing and enabling access to said cooking area; and wherein said canopy comprises telescoping first and second canopy sections releasably mounted to said base, each of said canopy sections pivotable between a locked position secured to said base and an unlocked position for removal of said canopy sections from said base, and a locking mechanism mounted between said first and second canopy sections and engageable therewith for locking said first and second sections together for removal from said base as a unitary structure.
 2. The cooking assembly of claim 1 and wherein said locking mechanism comprises a locking member including a lock activating portion projecting from said first canopy section and having an engagement portion extending inwardly, and a locking slot formed in said second canopy section, wherein as said first and second canopy sections are moved into a telescoped position, said engagement portion of said locking member is received within and is slideable along said locking slot to lock said first and second canopy sections together.
 3. The cooking assembly of claim 1 and wherein the cooking assembly comprises a grill.
 4. The cooking assembly of claim 1 and further comprising a handle mounted to said first canopy section.
 5. The cooking assembly of claim 1 and wherein said locking mechanism comprises a sliding latch.
 6. The cooking assembly of claim 1 and wherein each of said first and second canopy sections comprises a body extending between spaced side walls, each of said side walls further including attachment hardware at lower ends thereof for releasably attaching said first and second canopy sections to said base.
 7. The cooking assembly of claim 6 and wherein said attachment hardware comprises rotatable tabs formed at said lower ends of said side walls of each of said canopy sections, each tab including a recess adapted to engage and receive a pivot pin therein.
 8. A removable canopy for a cooking grill, comprising: a pivotable front canopy half and a pivotable rear canopy half, said front canopy half moveable to an opened position extending over and substantially covering said rear canopy half; wherein said front and rear canopy halves each include a body and spaced side walls at opposite ends of said body, said side walls having upper ends attached to said body and lower ends; attachment hardware located at said lower ends of said side walls for releasably engaging the cooking grill and providing pivotable movement for said front and rear canopy halves with respect to a cooking surface of the cooking grill; and a locking mechanism mounted along said front canopy half and having a locking member adapted to engage said rear canopy half when said front canopy half is pivoted to its open position substantially covering said rear canopy half for locking said front and rear canopy halves together in a locked together configuration; wherein with said front and rear canopy halves in this locked together configuration, the canopy can be rotated to a removal position whereby said attachment hardware of said side walls is disengageable from the cooking grill for removal of the canopy.
 9. The removable canopy of claim 8 and wherein said attachment hardware comprises rotatable tabs formed at said lower ends of said side walls of each of said canopy halves, each tab including a recess adapted to receive and engage a pivot pin therein.
 10. The removable canopy of claim 8 and wherein said locking mechanism comprises a sliding latch.
 11. The removable canopy of claim 8 and wherein said locking mechanism comprises a locking member having a lock activating portion projecting from said front canopy half and an engagement portion extending inwardly, and a locking slot formed in said rear canopy half wherein, as said front and rear canopy halves are moved into a telescoped position, said engagement portion of said locking member is received within and is slideable along said locking slot to lock said front and rear canopy halves together.
 12. The removable canopy of claim 8 further comprising a handle mounted to said front canopy half.
 13. A method of removing a grill canopy, from about a cooking surface of a grill, comprising: moving a first canopy section to an open position extending over and substantially covering a second canopy section and at least partially uncovering the cooking surface; securing the first and second canopy sections in a locked together arrangement; rotating the locked together first and second canopy sections to a removal position wherein the attachment hardware of the first and second canopy sections is disengaged from a pivot pin adjacent the cooking surface; and raising the locked together first and second canopy sections and moving the first and second canopy sections away from the cooking surface.
 14. The method of claim 13 and wherein securing the first and second canopy sections in a locked together arrangement comprises moving a locking member mounted in the first canopy section into a locking slot formed in the second canopy section as the first canopy section is moved over the second canopy section, and, after the locking member has been received within the locking slot, moving the locking member laterally to a locked position along the locking slot. 